Paramedics set to get the power to issue prescriptions in Wales

Welsh paramedics are set to join the list of allied health professionals with prescription-issuing power in new Welsh Government regulations (pdf). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Paramedic prescribing has already been approved for use in England and Scotland, where experienced paramedics are able to issue prescriptions once they’ve completed a specialist training programme. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The explanatory memorandum (pdf) says the policy will improve flexibility within the NHS workforce and “improve patient care without compromising patient safety”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It’ll also help reduce the workload of doctors as some patients will no longer have to make a GP appointment or visit hospitals to access prescription-only medicines. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Prescriptions issued by paramedics will remain free and paramedics will also be exempt from the single-use bag charge when dispensing drugs or medical devices. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The regulations are to be approved using the negative procedure, which means they’ll automatically become law unless there’s a vote to annul them in the Senedd. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The new regulations are set to come into force on 22nd February 2019. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Keep up to date with what is going on in the Senedd via SeneddHome.com ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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